Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama’s assurance to an informal request while visiting the Rewa province came to fruition with the opening of new classrooms today for students of Rewa District School.
The wooden block with four classrooms and built on piles cost Government $100,000.
Permanent Secretary for Provincial Development, Col Manasa Vaniqi said the request for assistance came from the vanua and school committee because of the depleted state of the old school block.
“On the Prime Minister’s visit to Nadoi to open the village’s new church an informal request was made to him concerning the school and for possible Government assistance,” Col Vaniqi said.
“He gave his assurance on the grant and after consultation, regular visits and inspections, Government decided to facilitate the request to avoid any future disaster and for the safety of children.”
Col Vaniqi handed over the new classroom block to the school committee, teachers and students at Vunikavika in Lomanikoro Village.
School Head Teachers M’s Sainimili Tavuki said their old concrete block was derelict and the new classrooms means safer learning and working environment for students and teachers.”
“The old block which will be replaced was first built as a flood evacuation centre since we are meters away from the Rewa River,” Tavuki said.
“It has faced the wrath of many floods and cyclones and have housed hundreds of people but it’s now in an unsafe and unstable condition.
“The structure is shaking and we can’t comprise the safety of the students.
“We really appreciate Government’s timely assistance and in taking the safety of our children seriously.”
School manager Alipate Senikuta shared similar sentiments: “Our children, even the parents and the whole vanua of Rewa district are happy for the timely assistance.”
“Government gave all the funds and we reciprocated with catering for the government builders and carpenters and carting of building materials from Nasali to the building site.
“We can now ensure that our children achieve the best in education with such assistance,” Mr Senikuta said.
The school, which was established in 1946, now has a roll of 130 students from 11 villages in the delta province.
It has produced many prominent names in Fiji and is also home to several national sporting stars.
-End-